The Pigeon Detectives talk to eFestivals at Play Fest

eFestivals had the chance to catch up with Matt Bowman, Oliver Main, Ryan Wilson, Dave Best and Jimmi Naylor, otherwise known as The Pigeon Detectives, backstage at Play Fest 2012.

How are you finding the festival so far?
Matt – Yeah, it's really good. We're in to these kind of festivals, you know, like the independent ones without the big massive slogan across the front of the stage, you know, the corporate sponsors. People tend to be here for the music, rather than for the piss up. Yeah, it's always a good vibe backstage, so far, could do with the sun coming out, but never mind.

What do you think is the difference between playing smaller festivals such as Play Fest, compared to the bigger corporate festivals – Reading, V and so on?
Matt – You don't get as much free shit, but that might not be a bad thing really 'cause I suppose that can detract from the reason you're really there, but yeah it's just a bit more chilled and laid back, and you know, the audience always seems a little less leery, but in a good way, you know, they are taking the day in and not getting as smashed as they can.

It's quite relaxed out there at the minute, I can tell you. Have you had a chance to explore outside the backstage area?
Matt – We went, had a look at the flash mob doing the Zumba dance, that was pretty cool.

Did you take part?
Matt – I umm, I wouldn't want to drag the standard down with my poor dancing, so no I didn't!

Fair enough! What is the big difference between playing at your own gig, or at a festival? Is there a difference for a band?
Oliver – Festivals generally are outside!
Dave – You've, kind of, you've got a more neutral ground I guess sometimes at festivals, you have to win them over which can be nice. It's nice to have the challenge. Plus you can just fart onstage if people don't like it, you know.
Matt – There' your headline right there! We can take a fart onstage and our fans will like it!

So, say you're at a festival, obviously you've got to win over some fans. For people who would never have heard of you before, and are here today, what would you describe yourselves like as a band, and a live act?
Matt – Engaging, Rock 'N' Roll, you know. I think we're a good band to play at a festival 'cause you can enjoy our music even if you don't know the song, you know, were straight to the point, with catchy choruses, and you know, and we're at our most comfortable onstage, it's where the band, kind of, comes to life and the songs, songs come to life, you know, so it should be good.

You're from Yorkshire, and you've done a bit of touring with Kaiser Chiefs in the past. They've been quite outspoken recently about the state of the music industry and the charts, lacking guitar bands, what are your thoughts on the current state of play?
Matt – I think it's very much dictated by what the radio plays. Unfortunately people tend to, they tend to like it easy and it's easy to be told what to listen to, and to be told what to like. It's just the way the world is, you can either piss and moan about it or you can get on with things. That was a little bit of the inspiration behind the title of 'Up, Guards And At 'Em'. It was a coat of arms for guitar bands and indie bands, you know, there is no point whinging in your bedrooms, pick your guitars up, keep doing what you want to do, and everything comes round in a circle and as long as you're making good music, you like, you enjoy making, then why not continue. I think the lucky thing for us is we've got quite a loyal fan base so, you know, we're maybe not feeling the pressure as much as the Kaiser Chiefs, so we're not going to whinge about it.

Earlier on in your career, you were championed quite a bit by Radio One, and the DJs on there, but since, well in the last couple of years, when there has been a lack of guitar bands, have you found it harder to get your tracks played? Is it tougher?
Dave – Yeah, but it's like Matt said, there is nothing you can do about it, it's out of your control. There is no point worrying about it, and it's the same for every single band, that's the problem. It's not like you feel victimised as a band, or thinking it's us, they don't like us? They just play hip hop and R 'n' B and stuff and that's their policy. F*ck 'em, it don't make a difference. We're not going to make a hip hop record because that's what they play, so don't worry about it.
Matt – Most importantly, we don't exist to have our songs played on the radio. We didn't form this band, just to get our songs played on the radio, so now they're not playing our songs on the radio, it's not an excuse to put our guitars down and go work on building sites. It's just, you know, it's one of those things.

What are the bands plans for the near future? Is there a new album in the works or another tour? I know you're finishing up your Summer By The Sea tour at the moment, aren't you?
Jimmi – Yeah, we have been recording actually, recording album number four, so we need to wrap that up when we've got back off our tour. We're possibly going to Europe to do a couple of festivals, but the album should be out towards the end of the year, and then we'll tour it basically.

Thanks then guys!

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